Aim to learn that Jesus disciples trusted and followed him

Aim
* To learn that Jesus disciples trusted and followed him
* To learn that we can be good disciples to our parents when we trust and follow them

Materials
* Bible stories – Jesus Calls his Disciples, Jesus Calms the Storm
* Visual Aids – cloured picture of the stories
* Twelve disciples picture cards
* Picture of Jesus and fishermen to colour
* coloured pencils
Keyword – disciple (a follower of Jesus)

Lesson Outline
1. Introduction
2. Story & Discussion
3. Activities – colour a picture, play ‘Follow Jesus’, play the memory game
4. Review the aims
5. Prayer

1) Introduction
* What was special about Jesus? He knew a lot about God. His heart was filled with God’s love. He was God’s special son because he loved God very much . He told many stories to teach people how to be good and happy. But he couldn’t do it all by himself. He needed help to do it. Today’s story is about the people who helped him .

2) Jesus Calls His Disciples (from The Beginner’s Bible)
Matthew 4:18-22 , Matthew 9:9, Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 1-3, Luke 5-6
Jesus began to tell people about God. He knew he had a lot of work to do, and he went to find some helpers. As Jesus was walking along the seashore, he some fishermen. 
Jesus called to them, “Come. Follow me. I will make you fishers of people.”
Right away, they left their boats and followed Jesus. Their names were Peter, Andrew, James and John.
Later Jesus met a tax collector called Matthew. Matthew’s job was to collect the tax money from the people and give it to the king. Matthew also gave up his job to follow Jesus.

Jesus chose some more people. Their names were Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and another man called James. Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas joined them, too. He called them disciples. Jesus taught them about  God’s love

3) Jesus calms the Storm (from The Beginner’s Bible)
Matthew 8: 23-27
Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. They wanted to cross the sea. Jesus took a nap. The waves gently rocked the boat back and forth. Suddenly a great storm came up. Waves splashed over the boat. Winds whipped around the disciples.

They woke Jesus up and shouted, “The boat is sinking! Don’t you care?”  Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all?” Then Jesus told the storm to stop. Right away it was calm. The disciples were amazed. They said to each other, “Who is this man Jesus? Even the wind and waves obey him!”

4) Discussion
* How could the fishermen stop everything and follow Jesus?
– they thought he was special,
– they liked being with him,
– they wanted to learn from him about God,
– they wanted to help him.
– They trusted him

* Sometimes we are busy doing something. What things are you busy doing at home?
– drawing,
– painting,
– making things,
– watching TV,
– dressing up,
– playing games,
– making jigsaw puzzles,
– reading books etc.

* What things do your parents ask you to do everyday?
– come to eat,
– get dressed,
– brush your teeth,
– get your coat on to go out, etc.

* When you are busy and your parents call you, do you stop everything and come straight away? Do your parents have to keep telling you? Is it easy to stop and come? 
Sometimes we have to. When we don’t, things can go wrong. When we learn to follow everything goes well. This is what Jesus disciples did. Jesus needed them and they came. Children must learn to come when their parents call. When children trust their parents everything goes well. When we are older God might ask us to stop what we are doing and follow Him, because he needs us. He has a plan for our lives.

 God knows us. He even knows how many hairs we have on our head! That’s why we should learn to follow as children, then God can help us and everything will go well. 
* When the disciples were in a storm they were afraid, but because Jesus was with them, they were  safe. It is the same in the family. If you are afraid of something, but your parents are with you are safe. 

So always follow your parents. The you can be a good disciple like the disciples of Jesus. Just like Jesus, your parents can’t do everything by themselves. They need good followers and helpers.

3) Activities
* Colour the picture of Jesus calling the fishermen to be his disciples
* Play ‘Follow Jesus’ – One child is Jesus. Everyone follows him around the room copying whatever he does. Change leaders from time to time
* Play the memory game using the 12 disciples picture cards
* Act out the story of the fishermen. When Jesus calls, stop everything and follow him. Do other  activities that you do in daily life, such as drawing a picture. Stop and follow when you are called.

4) Review the aims
* To learn that Jesus disciples trusted Jesus and followed him
* To learn that we can be good disciples to our parents when we trust and follow them

5) Prayer
* Say a prayer to thank God for Jesus and his disciples. Ask God to help be good disciples by following  our parents when they call.

NOTE
* Disciple means pupil or student, and the disciples were people who chose to follow Jesus and to listen
to his teaching. They called him rabbi, or teacher. The twelve disciples were followers of Jesus whom he
had chosen to become his core group, the people he talked things over with and depended on.